Can I slap an opponent's head when I'm blocking?
Rule- USA
- NFHS
- High school
- Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)
- Varsity
- 11-player football
- NFHS rules
- 2026 rules
- Players
No. New for 2026 (Rule 9-4-7): the ban on slapping an opponent's head now applies to all players, on offense and defense. The rule used to cover only defensive players slapping a blocker's head; the NFHS removed "defensive" and "blocker's" from the wording.
It's an illegal personal contact foul: 15 yards.
Added 21 Oct 2026